Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine Mocktail

Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine Recipe

How to Make Christmas Mocktails with Fruit Juice & Holiday Spices

Sip on a warm glass of non alcoholic mulled wine this holiday season for a dose of comfort without the hangover! A fruity, festive, spiced beverage that tastes like Christmas in a cup, especially when served in a glass with a sugared rim. Learn how to make a mulled wine mocktail with cranberry juice, grape juice, fresh fruit, and mulling spices—no added sugars needed.

Of course, you’re welcome to add alcohol to this Christmas mocktail recipe if you’d like. Personally, I enjoy having a comforting, seasonal beverage, but I don’t like how alcohol makes me feel. This non alcoholic mulled wine recipe is a great middle ground: a tasty and satisfying drink to sip on, with the option to add alcohol for those who want it.

Typically, mulled wine is served warm, but you can serve this mulled wine mocktail warm or cold—whichever you prefer. A warm drink highlights the festive flavors of the spices, a cold drink is more fruit forward. Either way, you end up with a holiday mocktail that’s sweet, tart, satisfyingly spiced, and so simple to make!

What is a good non alcoholic substitute for wine?

Nowadays, you can find all sorts of non alcoholic wine and cocktail alternatives. I designed this non alcoholic mulled wine recipe to mimic the dark color and spiced flavors in a classic mulled wine, but with a stronger fruity flavor. For other alcohol free options, try my non alcoholic holiday punch recipe or my vegan eggnog recipe!

Why is mulled wine called mulled?

“Mulling” refers to the process of heating, sweetening, and flavoring a beverage like mulled wine or hot apple cider. “Mulled” drinks typically include a mixture of mulling spices, like cinnamon, cloves, star anise, nutmeg, cardamom, and allspice. This mulled wine mocktail recipe simmers and steeps many of these spices, and it’s delicious served warm!

Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine Ingredients

Cranberry Juice
Grape Juice
Apple Slices
Orange Slices
Fresh Cranberries
Cinnamon Sticks
Star Anise
Whole Cloves
Ground Nutmeg

Substitution Notes

• Fruit Juices: I love the combination of cranberry and red grape juice in this non alcoholic mulled wine because it mimics the color and flavor of traditional mulled wine. And, it’s perfectly sweet without any added sugar! You’re welcome to use other fruit juices that you like instead.
• Fresh Fruit: I chose an array of fresh winter fruits to simmer and steep in this recipe for added flavor. Of course, you can switch up the fruits used in the recipe however you like. If you choose to use different fruit juices, consider adding some of the same fresh fruits to infuse even more flavor!
• Mulling Spices: Cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and nutmeg create a warm, comforting, robust mulled flavor that’s very satisfying in this mulled wine mocktail. If you’re not a fan of some of these flavors or if you’d like to include different flavors, consider incorporating some cardamom, allspice, or even peppercorns.

How to Make Mulled Wine without Alcohol

To make this non alcoholic mulled wine recipe, simply add all of your ingredients to a saucepan and simmer over low heat for 20-60 minutes. The longer it simmers, the more flavorful your holiday mocktails will be. If desired, add sugar to taste after simmering. (Though I thought it was plenty sweet with no added sugar.)

How to Make Sugared Serving Glasses

To make sugared serving glasses, you just need to dip your glasses into lemon juice, and then into sparkling sugar. I like to squeeze lemon juice onto a flat plate, and then sprinkle sparkling sugar onto a separate plate—forming a circular shape about the size of my glasses. All that’s left to do is dip the glass in lemon juice, then dip into the sugar to coat the rim, and voila!

What is the best way to drink mulled wine?

Typically, mulled wine is best served warm in a porcelain or glass mug. Personally, I enjoy this non alcoholic mulled wine mocktail served warm or cold. With your sugared serving glasses ready, carefully ladle your warm (or chilled) mulled wine into each glass, serve, and enjoy!

Watch how to make non alcoholic mulled wine in my Holiday Mocktails video!